Cable Giant Backs Off Billing Plan: Denver...

Cable Giant Backs Off Billing Plan: Denver cable-TV giant Tele-Communications Inc. backed off plans to automatically bill customers for a new pay channel after the plan was criticized by consumer advocates and targeted by at least four lawsuits. TCI said it will charge only those Encore customers who indicate on their monthly bills that they want to subscribe to the channel. Previously, TCI planned to bill subscribers for the service unless they specifically called to cancel it. Encore, a product of TCI spinoff Liberty Media Corp., televises hit movies of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. It costs an additional $1 to $5 a month, depending on how many other premium services a household subscribes to. It premiered in several states Monday.